Irrigation Regimes Affect Cabbage Water Use and Yield

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) was grown in drainage lysimeters under controlled soil water regimes during 3 years. Three irrigation regimes were imposed on cabbage grown on two soil types during the spring and fall growing seasons. Irrigation regimes consisted of applying water when the soil water tension at 10 cm exceeded 25, 50, or 75 kPa during crop growth. Yields and water use were highest when irrigation was applied at 25 kPa soil water tension. Regression equations are presented to describe the relationships of water use to plant age and to compute the ratios of daily evapotranspiration to pan evaporation (crop factors) for cabbage grown under the three irrigation regimes.